Reward Offered In Murder Of 14-Year-Old

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest in the murder of a 14-year-old boy who was gunned down in Minneapolis on Aug. 19.

Quantell Braxton was shot while playing with friends. His friends say they all ran when they heard gun shots but Braxton didn’t make it.

Investigators held a press conference Monday morning saying this is a tough case for them to solve. Ten days after Braxton was shot and killed near North Commons Park, police still have very little to go on.

They announced a partnership with Crime Stoppers to offer a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads police to an arrest.

Investigators say they believe Braxton was targeted by a gunman who was standing inside North Commons Park. Braxton was not involved with gangs, but they have not ruled out gang activity as being behind the shooting.

“He still always called me granny,” said Joann Odom, who can’t believe her grandson, Braxton, is gone.

She hopes the reward will spark someone to tell what they know.

“If anybody knows any information about anyone who murdered my grandson would they please come forward, please just help us understand why this had to happen to my grandson,” Odom said.

Right now, police say they need the public’s help in solving this crime. They made an emotional plea for information they hope will lead them to a killer.

“This is a very difficult investigation but there are folks out there who are listening right know who know who killed Quantell and have the evidence to prove it,” said Minneapolis Police Capt. Amelia Huffman. “And we need those folks to come forward. We need those folks to come forward for Quantell, for Quantell’s mother and for the community as a whole to heal.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan has been in law enforcement for 34 years and said that he’s never seen victims being targeted that were so young.

“We’ve had some young people that have been killed but it has been accidental,” Dolan said. “Not selling drugs, not doing what you would call gang activity. That should give you a sense of how young these kids are.”

Dolan says any murder causes great concern in our community, but the murder of a youth is especially painful.

“Before this shooting I’m told that Quantell was playing tag with his friend and two girls on the corner, not selling drugs, not doing what you would call gang activity, playing tag. That should give you a sense of how young these kids are,” said Dolan.

Information has come from the public that led to interviews of potential teen suspects, but so far no arrests. Police have increased their patrols in north Minneapolis.

In the past two days, they’ve arrested 30 people and took six guns off the streets. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information. Tips can come in anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

As a performer I put out the call to take back our youth and communties a long time ago and my Peers yawned. As a Father and a human being I am disgusted with our communities and it’s leader’s lack of action. When there is a Hurricane and people lose their homes everyone rallies and picnics for the cause, yet our youth are being destroyed perpetually with lax attention given to the problem.
Until these so called “Black Leaders” and “community activists” start moving their feet on the issues that matter most…I’m turning a blind eye and deaf ear to them. This problem could be solved but nobody wants to listen unless Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson etc. are speaking. F em all!

Yep I agree. People scream and complain about the police doing nothing to solve/stop these crimes. POLICE YOURSELVES!! Once again, the government shouldn’t have to do EVERYTHING for you. The odd thing is, if the police really did start cracking down i.e. nailing curfew violators and stopping everyone on the street after dark, you’d scream and cry because you’d feel you’re being racially profiled by white cops. The police, city council, etc can’t fix this mess for you.

Why are they stepping up patrols? Because they need to take resources out of other areas due to the lack of cops. If they had more cops on the street then they could be more proactive, not reactive and stop crime before it happens.